Title: How Did Holocene Climate Change Influence Freshwater Availability in Saline Lake Regions? by Dr. Xiaolang Zhang, Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences, Florida Atlantic University

Abstract

Surface water and groundwater are deeply interconnected, and understanding their exchange is essential for managing water resources and water quality. In this talk, I highlight studies examining surface water–groundwater interactions in saline desert lakes. The Badain Jaran Desert, China's second-largest desert (~52,000 km2), distinguished by its towering mega sand dunes and scattered lakes that together form a fragile hydrological system. The research examines how Holocene climate change has influenced freshwater availability in arid regions, with a particular focus on this unique landscape. Given the profound impact of climate change on hydrologic cycles, we use a calibrated three-dimensional groundwater–surface water coupled model to simulate groundwater flow and lake area